“For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the Spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ” (Colossians 2:5).

Steadfastness (Def): (Gr.): Stereoma from Stereoo: Something established, Confirmation, Solidify, Make strong

There is an urgency in this generation to lay a firm foundation of truth and life in Christ among those newborn saints who are coming into the newness of life and separating themselves from the previous darkness of the world and who are now in the light of the Kingdom of God.

The Apostle in his ministry of the Gospel traveled to many cities throughout the Roman world and was in constant contact with the saints in the churches that were established during the time he was with them, preaching and teaching the things of the Kingdom. To the Colossians Paul expressed his joy as he beheld by the Spirit their “order and the steadfastness of [their]faith in Christ”.

There is a blessedness to seeing young lives changed and witnessing their growth in the grace and knowledge of Christ. This does not just happen by chance, but by laying the firm foundation of faith by doctrine, labors, sacrifice, fellowship and service to the disciples and followers of the Lord.

“The foundation of God stands firm (Gr. Stereos) having this seal, ‘The Lord knows those that are His’ and let everyone that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (II Timothy 2:19).

When the Apostle had traveled to Derbe and Lystra, there he met Timothy whose mother was Jewish and his father a Greek. Timothy proved himself to be a faithful follower of Christ and was “well reported of by the Brethren” (Acts 16:2). Paul took young Timothy with him in his travels and went “through the cities and delivered to them the decrees to keep that were ordained by the Apostles and Elders at Jerusalem; and by these were the churches established (Gr. Stereoo) in the faith and increased in number daily” (Acts 16:4-5).

There is a virtue in being steadfast in faith that was encouraged and praised by the Apostle as he wrote to the Corinthians: “Therefore, my beloved Brethren, be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as you know your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (I Corinthians 15:58).

There is a goal in our journey of faith and that goal is Christ, to be “conformed to His image” (Romans 8:29). The writer to the Hebrews declares we achieve our goal and “we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end” (Hebrews 3:14).

The steadfastness of faith is built on the firm foundation of Christ, the solid Rock (cf. Matthew 7:24), and as the Apostle testified: “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid which is Jesus Christ” (I Corinthians 3:11).

Being established, being confirmed in the truth, being strong and solid in our faith are qualities of faithfulness, experience, maturity that grew from being built upon the right foundation. It is the way of the Lord in making Disciples. It is the way of the saints. It is the way of the Kingdom. Steadfast faith, firm foundation, an axiom worthy of our pursuit.

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